PJ Grisar is a Forward culture reporter. He can be reached at [email protected] and @pjgrisar on Twitter.
PJ Grisar
By PJ Grisar
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Culture Our big idea for how Steven Spielberg should spend his Genesis Prize money
Steven Spielberg’s Oscars are about to have some company. On Wednesday the Genesis Prize announced that the director behind such films as “Jaws” and “Schindler’s List” was selected for the “Jewish Nobel,” which comes with a $1 million prize. For the first time in its history, world Jewry was invited to vote on who would…
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Culture The Jewish lawyer fighting against fake vanilla — and for 3-legged squirrels
In front of me is a bottle of vanilla seltzer. Its label states it was made with “natural flavors.” When I mention the brand to Spencer Sheehan, his voice jumps an octave. “Oh, I know that!” says Sheehan, 41, with a Long Island lilt. “Natural flavors technically will have a small amount of vanilla, but…
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News Heading to controversy: Impeachment trial yarmulke debate ignites Twitter
Twitter erupted on Tuesday afternoon with the most existential of Jewish questions: Can a hand substitute for a yarmulke? The hoopla and hullabaloo began when David Schoen, the modern Orthodox attorney representing Donald Trump at his second impeachment trial, was making his case in front of the Senate. He grabbed the unmarked 8 oz. bottle…
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Culture This pastor translated Biden’s name to Hebrew. He won’t like his own Hebrew name.
Every so often, fringe Christian figures look to Hebrew to impute Satanic inspiration. Sometimes, it backfires tremendously. One-upping this woman who slammed Monster energy drinks with the sign of the beast, right-wing pastor Perry Stone has translated President Joe Biden’s name into Hebrew. When you break it down — eliding some vowels and looking into…
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Culture Amy Schumer’s mayo pitch was not exactly the Super Bowl’s most Jewish ad
Super Bowl LIV was a disappointing spectacle for even the most devoted Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan: a rout never makes for interesting viewing. And while we congratulate the Glazer family on a victory handily won — while cringing a bit each time the commentators said it was a “great night for [Buccaneers coach Bill] Arians”…
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Culture Read Trump’s letter of resignation from the Manischewitz Frequent Buyers Circle
On Friday, former President Donald Trump, fresh from his preemptive resignation from SAG-AFTRA, did an end run on a campaign to oust him from the Manischewitz Frequent Buyers Circle by sending a letter of withdrawal — a bold move, given that his punch card was one purchase away from a free box of matzo. The…
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Culture Is Serbia using a Holocaust film as nationalist propaganda?
'Dara of Jasenovac' is the first feature-length narrative about the death camp - but is it trying to score political points?
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Culture A new musical finds life in a Soviet Jewish homeland
Giles Howe has a story to tell about two Jewish homelands. The first is Israel, which he first encountered, like many Millennial Jews, on a Taglit Birthright trip. On his return — realizing he “knew very little about a lot” — he decided to explore his heritage to find where he belonged. He soon discovered…
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